Winnie Owens-Hart facts for kids

Winnie Owens-Hart, born in 1949, is an amazing American artist. She is a ceramist, which means she works with clay to make pottery, and a sculptor, who creates 3D art. Winnie is famous for mixing old African pottery styles with new, modern ceramic art. She studied at the University of the Arts and Howard University. Her art has been shown in many places in the U.S. and other countries.

Winnie also taught at Howard University and worked at famous places like the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery. She learned a lot about African pottery in Nigeria, where she trained with local women who made pots. Winnie loves to explore different cultures through her art. She has won many awards, including a special fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Smithsonian Institution for her craft art.

Early Life and Education

Winnie Owens-Hart was born in Washington, D.C.. She went to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. There, she earned her first art degree, called a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Later, she continued her studies at Howard University, where she received a Master of Fine Arts degree.

Exhibitions and Residencies

Winnie Owens-Hart has shown her artwork in many places. She has had both solo shows, where only her art is displayed, and group shows with other artists. These exhibitions have taken place all over the United States and in other countries.

She has also been a visiting artist at several schools and art centers. This means she visits to teach and share her skills. Some of these places include the University of Ife in Nigeria, the Penland School of Crafts, and the McColl Center for Visual Art. She has also been an artist-in-residence at places like Pewabic Pottery and the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. During these residencies, artists live and work in a special studio for a period of time.

Public Art and Collections

Winnie Owens-Hart's art can be found in important museums. The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution has examples of her work. She has also created public art pieces for places like Arlington County, Virginia. These are artworks made for everyone to enjoy in public spaces. She has also worked at the Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial in Philadelphia.

Winnie has received special support for her art. She was given an Individual Craftsman Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. This fellowship helps artists create new work.

Learning Traditional Pottery in Africa

Winnie Owens-Hart first traveled to Nigeria for a big event. It was called the World Festival of Black Arts. She went with other African American artists, like Jeff Donaldson and Nelson Stevens. They were representing the United States at this festival.

After the festival, Winnie received a special fellowship. This allowed her to go back to Nigeria. She joined the art faculty at the University of Ife. While she was there, she met an artist named Agboola Folarin. He took her to a small town called Ipetumodu. This town was famous for its traditional, handmade pottery.

In Ipetumodu, Winnie worked with local women potters. She became their apprentice, which means she learned from them. She learned how to build pots using old, traditional methods. She also learned how to fire the pots outdoors, using open fires.

After some time, Winnie had to return to the United States. She then joined the art department at Howard University. Her friend Jeff Donaldson was the head of that department.

Winnie later set up her own ceramic studio in Virginia. There, she created very large ceramic artworks. She also returned to Ghana to work with local potters there. She has become an important part of the community of women potters in Ghana. Winnie even made a documentary film about them. It is called “The Traditional Potters of Ghana: The Women of Kuli”.

Awards and Recognitions

Winnie Owens-Hart has received many special honors and awards for her work. Some of these include:

• Honorary Board Member, Renwick Museum, Smithsonian Institution
• Lifetime Achievement in the Craft Arts Award, Renwick Fellow, Smithsonian Institution
• Fellow, Smithsonian Institution Faculty Research Program
• National Endowment for the Arts – Individual Craftsmen Fellowship, 1978